Within Temptation and Sims Medieval

Apr 03, 2011 14:27

Okay, after listening to The Unforgiving more, I have come to appreciate the strong power metal feel of Iron...I think Within Temptation should definitely do some more power metal songs.

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Sims Medieval

Okay, this is not Sims 3 in medieval times (but that would be kinda cool), this is more like a RPG + simulation game with the medieval setting.

I have not finished the first "ambition" (aka Chapter) in this game. 
 
Gameplay: Heavily quest based, I've heard that there is a mode where you can play open ended (like in the Sims 3), but I have yet to unlock that mode. So far, I've only played with characters during their quest. Each quest has a story line and a series of actions that have to occur in order to fulfill the quest. Simultaneously, the sims have their own day to day assignments they must complete (only 2-3 per day). Some of the characters can engage in fighting. When your sim is in a "battle" you can assign a specific stance (which will determine how well you defend yourself or reserve stamina) and you can choose from a few different attacks. Their daily needs have been drastically diminished. You only need to keep an eye on their hunger and energy. There are no horses or carriages, which I think is pretty stupid, because it takes forever to walk anywhere. I feel like time moves slower in this game than in the Sims. While the sims sleep at night, I've got the game on the highest speed setting and I'm still sitting at the computer doing nothing for 3-4 minutes. Also, when sims go to the market, sail to other kingdoms, or walk/hunt/search the forest you can't see or control them. It's like going to work/school in Sims 2 or 3. Which also takes a long time and is boring. Especially since you are usually controlling only 1 sim per quest, 2 sims in other quests. Maybe you can control more sims in a quest further in the game, but I don't know.

Sim traits: There are 2 "normal" traits that you sims can have plus one "fatal flaw". Some of the flaws are: drunkard, evil, glutton, hubris, bloodthristy, insomniac and a few more I can't remember. The fatal flaw can be turned into a good trait through a quest, I've only had two sims do this but I think it can be done with all of the characters. The fatal flaws don't do much except decrease the sims mood. Some fatal flaws can be assuaged by indulging, for example, drinking alcohol if your sims is a drunk. I haven't noticed anything that can be done to negate the negative effect of hubris though. lol Fatal flaws can be annoying because if your sim's mood is too low they aren't "motivated" enough to do anything, and this decreases the progress of the quest.

Marriage and kids: Okay, marriage is pretty stupid in this game. Once you get married, you can't control the other sim. Your sim can interact with them, but you can't control the partner or the kid. Sims aren't pregnant for too long, I think about 2 sims day. I'm not sure how long kids stay babies, because I had a sim give birth at the end of a quest and when I started a new quest with her, the kid wasn't an infant anymore. You also don't have to feed kids or have a bed for them (at least not so far for me). I think this area of the game needs the most work. I think a lot of people like the generational aspect of Sims 2 and 3, so I'm not sure why they didn't include it in this game, unless they're trying to reach out to a different kind of audience. Which still doesn't make sense, because they have to know that the people most interested in Sims Medieval are going to be loyal Sims fans.

Professions: The characters are - monarch, physician, blacksmith, bard, two different types of priests, spy, merchant, knight, and wizard. Your sim earns money through their daily assignments.

*Monarchs are responsible for passing edicts, corresponding with other kingdoms, and hearing grievances from the peasants. Can send people to the stocks, fight, patrol, and hunt.

*Physicians are responsible for gathering herbs to make medicine, bloodletting via leechs, and diagnosing other sims.

*Wizards can learn and cast spells and are responsible for gathering herbs for magic potions. They can also gather certain types of metals and minerals but my wizard haven't made anything with them yet.

*Blacksmith: Gather metals and minerals and make swords, armor, etc.

*Bard: Write plays, songs, poems and performs them. Can gather "inspiration" from people and their environment.

*Priests: Grant blessings, give sermons, preach, convert, pray.

*Spy: Can fight, patrol, send "secret"messages, and pick locks to release people from the stocks. I think they can hunt.

*Merchant: Sell items, trade with other kingdoms, can hustle and bribe other sims.

*Knight: can fight, hunt, and patrol.

Build Mode, Buy Mode, and CAS: CAS is similar to Sims 3. Build mode is pretty much nonexistant because you can't build anything. I think you can alter the walls and floor, but all buildings are pre-designed and furnished.  At the beginning of the game you start out with the castle partially built and after you go on quests with your monarch and acquire more points, then you can add the physician's building, blacksmith, market (for the merchan), tavern (bard), churches, etc. You cannot decide where these building will be placed. There are also a few buildings you can add to your map that can increase knowledge, security, culture, or well being to the kingdom but don't have any interactions.

Food: There are no refrigerators, microwaves, food processors. You can keep food in your inventory for a while but it will eventually spoil. I have had this happen only once, so the food lasts a long time. Sims can cook in stone ovens or in the fireplace (with a cauldron). Food is obtained by buying it for the village shoppes, or buy fishing (all sims can fish). Some sims can hunt and can obtain meat that way.

The tutorial is forever long and you can't save during it. Which really pissed me off.

Overall, I like the game. It is more restrictive than a normal sim game, but I'm a very goal oriented person, so I like all the quests. I also like not having to design everything, because sometimes I just want to get on with main part of the game.The only things that I don't really like are how slow times moves at night and that you spend a great deal of the game starring at the screen while your sims makes potions or items. I think a lot of people will find this game mediocre because it doesn't really combine the great elements of RPGs with simulation. It just takes some traits from each and smushes them together. I think this game could be improved by increasing how quickly you can speed up time, by making it more interactive when sims are making items, allowing you to control your sims spouses and kids, allowing aging, adding  horses and carriages, and giving you the ability to play freely in game at any time. If this game has any kind of widespread success, it will be because all the sim fans are buying it. I don't think this will appeal to the RPG audience, unless they like sim games to begin with, and vice versa.

I've seen reviews giving the game 8-9/10. That is too generous and obviously inflated. lol I like the game, and I know I'm only early in the game, but I would give it about a 6-7. It's not groundbreaking like The Sims franchise was, it's a pretty average game. 

within temptation, sims medieval, games

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